Peter Bourjos jogging this week, taking batting practice
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com
(6:55 pm ET) Angels center fielder
Peter Bourjos, who is recovering from a hamstring strain, has started jogging this week and taking early batting practice, the
Los Angeles Times reports.
Bourjos has missed all of May after suffering the injury during the team's 19-inning game last month.
Owning Francisco Liriano a priority now
by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer
(6:48 pm ET) After his first two starts, the Pirates' Francisco Liriano was an intriguing pickup in Fantasy, but he hadn't done anything impressive enough to win over owners in standard mixed leagues. Clearly, after shutting down the Cubs over seven innings Wednesday, that's not the case anymore.
It seems like an eternity ago, but in 2010, Liriano was back on the upswing in Fantasy, with 201 strikeouts in a 14-win season for the Twins. Since then, injuries and his usual control problems have derailed him. But at age 29, his stuff is still exceptional. Who's to say he can't recapture his prior form?
Obviously, control will be the key, but after three starts in which it hasn't come back to bite him, he's worth the benefit of the doubt over a struggling Dan Haren or middling Jeremy Guthrie. Maybe the move to the NL will do for him what it did for A.J. Burnett.
Yan Gomes worth monitoring after all
by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer
(6:40 pm ET) Soon after his two-homer game Monday, I said
Yan Gomes wasn't worth the trouble in Fantasy because he's a backup catcher. But he has homered once since then and seems to be getting more playing time, having started four of the Indians' last seven games.
Now, part of the reason was because Nick Swisher missed three games for the birth of his daughter. But Gomes clearly made an impression in Swisher's absence, and manager Terry Francona was singing his praises even before then.
Given the versatility up and down their lineup -- from Swisher to Carlos Santana to Mark Reynolds to Gomes himself -- the Indians could find creative ways to keep giving Gomes at-bats, perhaps sitting Drew Stubbs or Michael Brantley occasionally for him. He's most likely looking at no more than 3-4 starts per week, but as a poor man's Evan Gattis, he could factor in leagues that require starting two catchers.
Michael Cuddyer active, available vs. Giants
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com
(6:39 pm ET) Rockies outfielder
Michael Cuddyer was activated, as expected, for Friday's game against the Giants. Cuddyer had been on the disabled list since May 11 with a bulging disk in his neck.
Cuddyer will be available for the game, but it is not yet clear whether he will be in the starting lineup.
Jeff Karstens might start rehab at Triple-A Saturday
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com
(6:39 pm ET) Pirates starting pitcher
Jeff Karstens, who is recovering from shoulder inflammation, has
traveled with Triple-A Indianapolis for a weekend series in Buffalo but has not been scheduled for a rehab start. Karstens could bump Saturday's starter Gerrit Cole, since Sunday's starter is Charlie Morton, who is also making a rehab start, the
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Carlos Quentin overcomes knee injury
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com
(6:36 pm ET) Padres outfielder
Carlos Quentin was back in the lineup, as expected, Friday against the Diamondbacks, after missing the previous two games with a knee injury.
Quentin is in the lineup batting fourth and in his usual spot in left field.
Chase d'Arnaud moves rehab to Triple-A
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com
(6:33 pm ET) Pirates manager Clint Hurdle told the
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that infielder
Chase d'Arnaud has moved his rehab assignment from
Double-A Altoona to Triple-A Indianapolis.
d'Arnaud, who is recovering from thumb surgery, hit .143 (2 for 14) in four games at Double-A after hitting .333 (2 for 6) at Class A Bradenton.
Jayson Werth less than two weeks away
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com
(6:32 pm ET) Nationals outfielder
Jayson Werth likely needs at
least 10 more days before he is ready to return from the disabled list, according to CSNWashington.com. Werth had his return delayed last week after he aggravated his hamstring injury during a minor-league rehab assignment.
"The doctor said it was two weeks,” manager Davey Johnson said. "He told me that four days ago, so he’s probably got close to two weeks."
Time to pick up Zack Wheeler
by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer
(6:31 pm ET) It can probably go without saying, but now is absolutely the time to make a move for
Zack Wheeler.
Even before Wheeler's return from shoulder inflammation Wednesday, Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said he hoped to see the top prospect in the big leagues 2-3 starts after that. A Mets official confirmed that timetable Thursday, not that he needed to. Alderson is the one and only person who gets to decide when Wheeler arrives. Rarely is there so much clarity for a prospect with so much upside.
That's why you shouldn't hesitate to act. Wheeler has an ace pedigree and would be the highest-profile pitching prospect to reach the majors this year. Plus, the Mets wouldn't be calling him up as an injury fill-in or spot starter. Once he's here, he's here for good.
Wilson Ramos making progress
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com
(6:30 pm ET) Nationals catcher
Wilson Ramos is recovering well from his left hamstring injury and has been receiving treatment and working out over the last few days. CSNWashington.com reported Friday that Ramos is still likely to
need a few days more than the minimum of 15 days before he is ready to come back from the disabled list. Ramos has been out since May 16, the second time he has hit the DL dating to April.